Author Description

A completely revised and updated version of the widely read first edition, this book offers a comprehensive study of Mexican politics. Needler separates the facade from the reality in examining the political system of this vast country and explains the multiple contradictions that confront the student of Mexican politics. He places the current political system in comparative and historical context giving a subtle yet penetrating analysis of Mexico's current dilemmas. Advanced students of Latin American politics and comparative politics will find this a valuable resource.... Needler has given us a first class analysis of the Mexican political system. Foreign Service Journal A completely revised and updated version of the widely read first edition, this book offers a comprehensive study of Mexican politics. Martin Needler separates the facade from the reality in examining the political system of this vast country and explains the multiple contradictions that confront the student of Mexican politics. He stresses the non-formal democratic elements in the Mexican system while covering the government structure and formal policy. The book places the current political system in comparative and historical context giving a subtle yet penetrating analysis of Mexico's current dilemmas. Advanced students of Latin American politics, comparative politics, and Mexican history, as well as the interested general reader will find Mexican Politics a valuable resource. The book begins with a brief history of Mexico's political system. Needler examines the geographic and social contexts in which the political system functions. This is followed by studies of political parties and their origins, the press and how it functions, the economy, economic policy, and foreign policy. Needler provides an intelligible and much needed understanding of a complex political system providing the reader with the most current information about Mexican politics.